VICE President Sara Duterte’s latest “meltdown” will not be enough to divert the people’s attention from her alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds in both the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), Malacañang’s allies at the House of Representatives said yesterday.

“No amount of on-screen meltdowns can bury the issue of the alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) under either the Office of the Vice President or DepEd. The Filipino people demand answers,” said Zambales Rep. Jeferson Khonghun. “No person in his right mind would even think, much less make such statements. The level of craziness is worrisome,” he said in Filipino.

Khonghun was reacting to Duterte’s statements at a Friday press conference where she said she had daydreamed about cutting off the head of President Marcos Jr. head during a graduation ceremony they had attended.

Duterte also said she once threatened the President’s elder sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, that she would exhume the remains of the President’s father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and throw them into the West Philippine Sea, if political attacks against her will continue.

Khonghun said the Vice President should stop resorting to “theatrics” and directly address military officials’ denial that she allocated P15 million from the DepEd’s confidential funds for the Youth Leadership Summits (YLS) in 2023.

He said Duterte has to explain why the DepEd falsely claimed before the Commission on Audit (COA) that it used P15 million of its confidential funds for eight YLS events in 2023, when it was the Armed Forces that paid for it.

Duterte was concurrent education secretary from June 30, 2022, to July 19, 2024. 

Khonghun said the public is waiting for “clear answers” from Duterte.

“Please answer, Madam VP Sara: Did you dupe the military of not? It’s also important for the people to know where the P15 million said to be used by the DepEd for YLS under your leadership went,” he said.

MILITARY FUNDS

Army Col. Manaros Boransing last week told the House committee on good government that the Philippine Army and local government units spent their own funds for the YLS. However, lawmakers found that DepEd, in liquidating P15 million in confidential funds, made it appear that it funded the YLS.

The Commission on Audit also confirmed acknowledgement receipts used by DepEd to show how the P15 million was spent, with the DepEd labeling the expenses as “rewards to informers.”

Boransing and three other military officials testified they would not have issued certifications for YLS had they known the DepEd under Duterte was using them to justify the P15-million payment from confidential funds, allegedly allocated to pay informants.

Last Friday, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Manila Rep. Joel Chua, and Rep. Arlene Brosas all said the Vice President was obviously just trying to cover up the issues against her questionable use of confidential funds by making outrageous statements.

“The Filipino people see through these diversionary tactics. They weren’t born yesterday. Pinagtatawanan ka na nila (they are laughing at you), Madam VP. Now it’s up to you. Will you continue being a comedy act or be woman enough to confront these issues?” Khonghun said.

La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V challenged the Vice President’s leadership style. “For VP Sara: given how you’re handling these allegations, now tell the people what kind of leader you are,” he said.

“This is just the latest in a series of alleged misuse of public funds. Unfortunately, the Vice President has never addressed these issues directly and instead resorts to making outlandish statements. Puro sound bites, pero walang substance (It’s all soundbite, not substance),” Ortega said.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION

The two lawmakers called for a psychological evaluation of the second highest official of the land, saying it appears that the Vice President is not in healthy mental state.

“For someone in such a high position to make violent and grotesque threats, even in jest, shows a troubling level of instability,” Khonghun said. “There should be a thorough psychological assessment to ensure if she is fit to serve the public in that critical position.”

Ortega urged the OVP “to consider seeking professional help for Vice President Duterte, as this behavior is deeply concerning and could have serious consequences for our nation’s leadership.”

“The Filipino people deserve leaders who are mentally and emotionally stable, especially during challenging times,” he said.

Rep. Jude Acidre (PL, Tingog) said the Vice President seems to fit the description of the classic case of a government official who is “feeling entitled.” 

“Those who cannot win an argument intelligently resort to the use of their fists or violence. Her display of arrogance only shows what she thinks of our democratic institutions and norms. Her demeanor in the press conference, as usual, says it all. It’s very telling,” he said. “Our most respected VP should stop being childish. She only showed how selfish and self-centered she is. She could not even engage lawmakers in discussions about the CIF and disallowed funds intelligently. And she’s supposed to be a lawyer — only one of unbecoming at that.”

Senate President Francis Escudero said he respects Duterte’s personal opinion but political attacks are not enough reason to justify her strongly-worded statements against President Marcos.

“… her choice of some words are unbecoming of her… The Vice President uttered some words of disappointment and frustration, but that should not be a reason to say those kinds of words especially she is being looked up to by many people,” he said in Filipino in an interview with radio dzBB.

“She said that would have wanted to cut the President’s head off. That is inappropriate thing to for one of the highest officials of the country,” he added.

BUDGET DEBATES

Escudero also said he would not like to pre-empt his colleagues in the Senate on how to handle Duterte’s lack of proper explanation on how she spent her confidential funds.

He said plenary debates on the proposed budget will be defended by the senator who is the sponsor of an agency’s budget, and not the actual head of agency. In this case, he said, it will be Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the finance committee.

Escudero said a copy of the OVP report in relation to the confidential funds has been sent to his office. He said they will need COA to explain details of each compliance documents, like what was done at the House. — With Raymond Africa

THE Office of the Vice President (OVP) spent a whopping P16 million for the rentals of 34 safehouses in just 11 days during the last quarter of 2022 using its P125 million confidential funds, the Commission on Audit (COA) revealed to lawmakers yesterday.

COA presented the OVP report on its P125 million confidential funds in 2022 before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, which also issued subpoenas to six OVP officials, including Vice President Sara Duterte’s chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez, for refusing to attend the probe despite having been issued show-cause orders.

The others are lawyers Lemuel Ortonio; assistant COS and Rosalynne Sanchez, OVP director for administrative and financial services; Gina Acosta, OVP special disbursing officer; Julieta Villadelrey, OVP chief accountant: and Edward Fajarda, former Department of Education special disbursing officer who is now with the OVP.

The panel chaired by Manila Rep. Joel Chua is looking into the alleged irregularities in the use of public funds by OVP and the DepEd when the Vice President was still the concurrent education secretary.

Lawyer Gloria Camora of COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office said the OVP’s P16 million in total payments was liquidated through the submission of 34 acknowledgement receipts between December 21 to 31.

Panel members pointed out that the expenditures using the OVP’s confidential funds were justified using acknowledgment receipts that were either unsigned, illegible and with incomplete names.

They said the receipts also lacked supporting documents, such as lease contracts or other pertinent records.

Lawmakers, in particular, could not believe the huge amount that the OVP spent to rent safehouses, noting that one safehouse cost almost P91,000 per day, which is even more expensive than the rates of high-end resorts.

Antipolo City rep. Romeo Acop, a retired police general who is also a lawyer, cited one of the receipts for a P500,000 payment for a safe house, which Camora said could mean that the rent was around P45,000 per day for 11 days.

“What kind of a safehouse is that, with a rental fee that costs P45,000 per day when other posh areas are even cheaper than this P45,000?” Acop said in disbelief.

The COA was not provided with further details about the rentals of the safehouses because of its confidential nature.

In a position paper, the OVP justified the absence of invited resource persons by saying that the House hearing was unnecessary because no clear piece of legislation will come from it.

“We respectfully take the position that the deliberation or hearing is unnecessary and that the attendance of the officials and personnel of the Office of the Vice President is therefore not needed,” the OVP’s position paper said, pointing out that Duterte already attended the deliberations on the OVP’s proposed 2025 budget last August 27.

The OVP said the issues raised by Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano in his privilege speech last September 3 on how the OVP has been using its budget can be addressed by COA reports and a separate report submitted to the Committee on Appropriations.

“It becomes completely unnecessary for the Committee to belabor and pursue a legislative inquiry into the budget utilization and accomplishment of the Office because the data has already been provided during the budget deliberations in the Committee on Appropriations, and that further information needed may be verified through the COA,” the OVP said.

The OVP said “the absence of any legislative objective or outcome and the lack of clarity in the rules as to jurisdiction and power of the Committee, does not satisfy the requirements enshrined in Article VI, Section 21 of the Constitution on inquiries in aid of legislation. We therefore respectfully request the Committee to terminate its inquiry on the matter.”

The OVP’s report to the COA also showed that in the third quarter of 2023, it spent P5 million for safehouse rentals covering 79 days, bringing the total rental expenses covering four quarters to P53 million.

Chua questioned the nature of the safehouses rented, asking if the OVP rented luxurious properties with amenities typically found in high-end resorts like Shangri-La Boracay, where a stay costs only around P25,000 per night.

He noted that the monthly rentals in Bonifacio Global City is around P90,000 a month, which is far lower than the average daily rate of P91,000 paid by the OVP.

“Hindi po ba kayo nagtaka kung bakit ganoon kamahal? Wala po kayong information kung gaano kalaki ang building (Did you not wonder why it was that expensive? Don’t you have an information on how big the buildings are?” Chua asked Camora, who said the audit team had no detailed information about the size or location of the rented properties.

Camora said that the transactions related to the rental payments for safehouses complied with the documentary requirements outlined in the COA joint circular on the use of CIFs, including the questioned acknowledgment receipt.

This frustrated Acop who found it unacceptable that the COA only relied on documentary proof of payment since there was no way to verify the authenticity of the information on the acknowledgment receipts.

“So, walang paraan ang COA para malaman kung gawa-gawa lang ang mga acknowledgment receipts na sinubmit? (So, there’s no way for COA to determine if the receipts were fabricated?) Would my statement be correct?” Acop asked Camora, who replied, “Yes, Mr. Chair.”

Camora told Acop that 34 acknowledgment receipts means that 34 safehouses were rented. “Sir, there’s information that one receipt may pertain to one safe house,” she said.

Manila Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr. noted the inconsistencies in the OVP’s safehouse rental spending between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first three quarters of 2023, prompting Camora to admit that there is a “steep” difference, especially since the spending in 2022 was too high.

On the first three quarters of 2023 Camora confirmed that the OVP spent P16 million each in the first and second quarters, covering 53 days and 67 days, respectively.

“Mathematics lang e (It’s just mathematics), 11 days versus 53 days,” Dionisio said, questioning why the same amount of P16 million was spent on completely different durations.

For the third quarter of 2023, Camora confirmed the OVP spent P5 million for 79 days.

“Hindi po ba na parang nakakapagtaka na P5 million napagkasya sa 79 days tapos medyo extreme kumpara sa Quarter 4 ng 2022 na P16 million for 11 days? (Isn’t it suspicious that the P5 million lasted for 79 days and it was a little bit extreme compared to the Quarter 4 of 2022 when P16 million was used for 11 days?),” Dionisio asked, to which Camora, said: “Pwede pong ganoon, sir, na extremely malaki ‘yung gastos nung 2022 (It could be like that, sir, that the 2022 spending was extremrely higher).”

‘A VERY CORRUPT PERSON’

At one point in the hearing, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel accused former DepEd Usec. Epimaco Densing III of being a “very corrupt person” for allegedly soliciting commissions from members of the House of Representatives in exchange for approving school building projects in their districts when Duterte was still heading the DepEd.

Pimentel said Densing allegedly asked lawmakers for kickbacks as high as 18 percent of the contract price of school building projects in their respective districts.

Pimentel recounted a phone conversation he had with Densing’s associate Greg Morillo, who allegedly acted as a go-between when he called him up asking if the lawmaker could meet Densing about the P170 million budget for a school building project in his district.

“You already know that,” the congressman quoted Morillo as telling him when he asked why he needed to meet with Densing. “Right there and then, I already knew na si Mr. Densing manghihingi ng commission (that Mr. Densing will ask for a commission).”

“Dapat huwag ka nang bumalik sa gobyerno (You should not return to the government. The government does not need your kind. You are a very corrupt person making your position to your advantage,” he added.

Pimentel, despite the allocation of P170 million for school buildings in his district, said the bidding process for these projects was abruptly halted after he refused to comply with Densing’s alleged request for a commission.

“Lo and behold, the funds did not come through, kinancel ‘yung bidding (the bidding was cancelled),” Pimentel said.

Pimentel also claimed that Densing approached other lawmakers, offering school building allocations in exchange for a percentage of the project’s budget, including one congressman from the Visayas who was asked for an 18 percent commission.

He said Densing even met with several congressmen in Manila, accompanied by a contractor named Architect Ralph Tecson, because he was allegedly not only demanding commissions but was also directing contractors to lawmakers.

Densing denied all the allegations: “Well, first of all, it’s a blatant lie asking for commission. It is the very reason I’m process-oriented.”

This prompted Pimentel to say: “You are lying Mr. Densing. And I can cite you for contempt.” “What I will do is gather more evidence to prove that what I am saying is true, that Mr. Epimaco Densing is a very corrupt person.”

THE small committee tasked by the House of Representatives to introduce individual and institutional amendments to the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) has finalized its decision to reduce the budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) by P1.3 billion following Vice President Sara Duterte’s absence in the plenary deliberations on Malacañang’s proposed P6.352 trillion national budget.

Rep. Zaldy Co (PL, Ako Bicol), chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and who heads the small panel, said the House has reallocated the funds to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH).

Because of this, P646.5 million will now be added to the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, while another P646.5 million will be used to support the DOH’s Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program.

The House, upon the recommendation of the appropriations panel, earlier agreed to slash the OVP’s 2025 budget from P2.037 billion to P733.198 million, citing as one of the reasons the overlapping functions between the OVP and other agencies like the DSWD and DOH, which contributed to redundant expenses.

The House last September 25 approved on third and final reading the Palace’s proposed national budget for 2025. The measure will be sent to the Senate after the amendments introduced by the small committee are incorporated.

Duterte stopped attending the budget hearings and the subsequent plenary deliberations on her office’s budget request for next year after she refused to answer questions hounding her office’s use of P73 million in confidential funds which was part of the OVP’s 2022 budget.

The P73 million was disallowed by the Commission on Audit (COA) out of the P125 million confidential funds spent by the OVP in 2022.

Lawmakers have said that the COA disallowance is proof of the OVP’s alleged “broader pattern of seeming misuse or mismanagement of government funds.”

In a September 11 letter to Adiong, the Vice President reiterated her stand that she will no longer defend her office’s proposed budget for 2025, stressing that lawmakers can do whatever they want with it.

Co said the realignment will result in “significant” savings, particularly from the OVP’s rental expenditures, noting that in 2023, the OVP spent P53 million on leasing 10 satellite offices and two extension offices nationwide.

The lawmaker stressed that this was a steep increase from the P4.1 million annually spent on office rentals during the term of former Vice President Leni Robredo.

“These satellite offices are performing functions that should fall under existing government agencies, leading to unnecessary duplication and higher costs,” Co said.

Co said some of these offices are only manned by only a few individuals and “are often used for political rather than social service purposes.”

“By eliminating redundant roles, government can save as much as P1.3 billion, which constitutes a significant portion of the OVP’s proposed P2.037 billion budget for 2025. The House believes this amount could be more effectively allocated to existing agencies, enabling them to extend their services to the public more efficiently,” he said.

While the OVP has reported serving over 1.5 million beneficiaries through its medical, burial, and relief programs as of August 31, 2024, Co said such services “could be more efficiently managed by agencies with dedicated resources and expertise.”

“Consolidating these responsibilities under the appropriate departments would not only eliminate costs associated with maintaining satellite offices but also streamline service delivery, reducing administrative overlap and minimizing confusion among beneficiaries,” he said.

Co also said the COA has recommended a thorough review of the OVP’s functions and expenditures to assess the necessity of maintaining these satellite offices.

“As the government faces increasing pressure to adopt more fiscally responsible practices, reducing the OVP’s redundant spending could be a key step toward ensuring more efficient governance,” he said.

THE Office of the Vice President (OVP) yesterday belied Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s claim that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has accommodated all the OVP’s referrals, calling it “inaccurate and misleading.”

“While such statements may paint a picture of seamless coordination between our two offices, the reality on the ground tells a different story,” Norman Baloro, OVP’s director for operations, said in a statement.

“There had been several instances when OVP referrals were declined. An example of this was a request for assistance to an identified group of individuals whose livelihood were affected due to the African Swine Flu virus. The request was denied because the DSWD claimed that they cannot do ‘mass payout,’ and yet they are able to do it in other areas, together with other politicians,” Baloro said.

He also said there are “clear evidence from various OVP satellite offices that some clients referred by the OVP have been left unattended by various regional offices of the DSWD.”

“Isa lamang dito ay mayroong 7,056 pending applications para sa Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) at 2,597 pending applications para sa Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) ang nai-refer ng OVP Panay and Negros Islands satellite office sa DSWD Field Office-VI na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring naiaabot na assistance (For one, 7,056 applications for AICS and 2,597 pending applications for SLP were referred by the OVP Panay and Negros Islands satellite office to the DSWD Field Office-V, which until now, has not given any assistance),” he said.

Baloro said the list of OVP’s identified beneficiaries in Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor likewise keep on returning to OVP satellite offices “because they have not received anything from the DSWD.”

“There is no clear explanation provided by the DSWD to the OVP referred clients from the satellite offices on the delay or inaction on the requests. To dismiss these unserved clients is to ignore the real challenges many Filipinos face in accessing social services. We call for DSWD’s immediate action to address these gaps and fulfill the government’s obligation to provide aid to every Filipino,” Baloro said.

Vice President Sara Duterte had used the DSWD denial of her office’s endorsements due to politics to justify her request for P1.909 billion for socio-economic programs, such as medical and burial assistance, disaster operations, food bags for families affected by disasters, and livelihood assistance.

Gatchalian, during the Senate’s budget hearing on Monday, told senators that all requests for assistance from the OVP were accommodated, which he said can be proven by the exchanges of text messages between the two agencies’ point persons.

Gatchalian said the Vice President’s allegations were baseless, adding that he can provide the Senate copies of the screenshots of the text exchanges “but we have to ask permission from Director Norman if he will also consent.”

He also said the OVP has even awarded the DSWD with a plaque of recognition acknowledging it as its “valued partner.” He also promised to submit to the Senate a photo of the plaque.

The House of Representatives earlier slashed by 63 percent the OVP’s budget and realigned its socio-economic funding request to the DSWD and the Department of Health, citing as one of the reasons the OVP’s duplication of the DSWD’s functions.

The OVP is asking for a P2.037 billion budget for next year.

It was Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros who first noted the P1.909 billion OVP budget request for socio-economic programs, such as medical and burial assistance, disaster operations, food bags for certain families, and livelihood assistance.

A SMALL committee tasked by the House of Representatives to introduce individual and institutional amendments to the proposed 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) has increased by P292.23 billion the budget for social services, including the allocation for “ayuda” or financial assistance under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The amount includes an additional P39.8 billion for the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) designed to offer immediate support to those facing financial hardships, and another P39.8 billion for the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

“The additional funding is crucial for supporting those in need. We’re providing assistance to struggling families especially during these challenging times,” said Rep. Zaldy Co (PL, Ako Bicol), chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, who heads the small panel.

The House of Representatives last September 25 approved on third and final reading Malacañang’s proposed P6.352 trillion national budget for 2025. The measure will be sent to the Senate after the amendments introduced by the small committee are incorporated.

Co said the funding package for 2025 “aims to address the pressing needs of vulnerable sector, including financially-challenged students, farmers, fisherfolk, soldiers, indigent families and those who barely passed the poverty threshold.”

The appropriations panel chair said the additional funding is on top of the P591.8 billion earmarked by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for cash assistance to impoverished families.

Co noted that the additional P39.8 billion cash assistance for AKAP, which targets those who earn P21,000 and below per month, is three times bigger than the actual 2024 allocation of P13 billion.

He said AKAP is designed for the “near poor” or “lower middle class” segment of the population, “which includes minimum wage earners vulnerable to economic shocks like sudden death of household head, sickness, loss of jobs or runaway inflation that can easily send them back to poverty.”

Co said the House also allocated P3.4 billion for the sustainable livelihood program for low-income families because “we believe that empowering individuals through livelihood programs will help break the cycle of poverty.”

Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, the panel’s senior vice chair, said the Department of Labor and Employment will receive an additional P20.28 billion for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and the Government Internship Program.

“We must have funds on standby to support those who have crossed the poverty threshold to prevent them from falling back into poverty due to economic challenges. This budget is not just about numbers; it’s about the lives we can uplift,” she said.

As additional support for education, the House panel allocated P30.01 billion more to provide scholarships for underprivileged students pursuing tertiary education. The fund will be equally shared by the Commission on Higher Education’s Tertiary Education Subsidy and Tulong Dunong programs.

“Investing in education is investing in the future. Every child deserves the chance to learn and succeed,” said Quimbo, a former professor of economics at the University of the Philippines who is also a visiting professor at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Co said the Department of Education (DepEd) will also benefit from an additional P7 billion budget for the construction of new school facilities and repair of existing ones, particularly in underserved areas.

The AFP, for its part, will receive an additional P8.44 billion to increase subsistence allowances of military personnel. Once approved, the daily subsistence of soldiers will increase to P250 or a 67 percent hike from previous levels.

The AFP will also get P3.2 billion more to complete the airport expansion on Pagasa Island along with a shelter port in Lawak, Palawan in support of efforts to defend the West Philippine Sea against continuing Chinese intrusion.

To enhance food security, the panel realigned P30 billion for the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Irrigation Network Piping System, solar-powered irrigation systems, and cold storage projects.

Additionally, P44 billion has been added to the National Irrigation Administration’s budget for establishing pump irrigation and solar-driven pump irrigation projects.

The Department of Health is also set to receive an additional P56.87 billion, aimed at enhancing its health facility enhancement program, medical assistance for indigent and financially incapacitated patients program, and improving specialty and legacy hospitals.

A P1 billion budget has been earmarked for upgrading the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, a crucial facility in the country’s healthcare system.

Garma urged to spill beans on Barayuga killing

THE House quad committee wants retired police Lt. Col. Royina Garma to reveal if former President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte ordered the July 2020 assassination of retired police Gen. Wesley Barayuga, who was then the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary.

Surigao Del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the overall chair of the four House panels investigating the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) of drug suspects under Duterte’s war on drugs, said he is personally interested to know if the directive to kill Barayuga came from Garma or from Duterte.

Barbers said that as of now, the testimonies received by the joint panel point to Garma, who served as PCSO general manager during the Duterte administration, as the one who ordered the “operation” on Barayuga, using as a smokescreen the latter’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs and his inclusion in the Duterte administration’s drug list.

“Since Garma has denied any hand in Barayuga’s murder, she should reveal who ordered it,” he said in a statement. “We want retired Col. Garma to comment on the detailed testimonies of Lt. Colonel Mendoza and (his drug informant, retired police Cpl. Nelson) Mariano, and of course on other EJK cases.”

Mendoza earlier claimed that Garma ordered Barayuga’s assassination in exchange for P300,000, a claim corroborated by Mariano, who admitted that he recruited the hitman, a certain “Loloy.”

On the day of the assassination, Mariano said he and Loloy received real-time information on Barayuga’s movement, including a photograph of the late PCSO board secretary supposedly taken by Garma attending a PCSO board meeting, as well as the details of the vehicle that he would be using.

The information was sent by a certain “Toks,” supposedly a close aide of Garma. Mariano said it was Toks who also gave him the P300,000 as payment for the task they carried out.

The retired general was shot to death near the PCSO office in Mandaluyong City.

Mendoza has said the plot began in October 2019 when retired police colonel and now resigned Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) approached him with a “special project” to eliminate Barayuga and frame him for alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Mendoza said he reluctantly complied, saying the order came directly from Garma, who was known for her close ties to the former president and her alleged links to the Davao Death Squad (DDS).

Garma and Leonardo are Mendoza’s seniors or upperclassmen at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).

The quad committee hearings have revealed that the motive centered around disagreements between Garma and Barayuga over “Peryahan ng Bayan” franchise allocations and the issuance of board certificates for Small Town Lottery (STL) franchises, which the latter reportedly refused to sign without full board approval.

Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., one of the panel’s chairmen, urged Garma to “reveal all she knows about EJKs and identify those who ordered the killings, who carried out the orders, who are all those involved.

“Retired Colonel Garma’s explosive testimony last Friday linking former President Duterte and his (former) close aide, Sen. Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, to extrajudicial killings during the previous administration could be just the tip of the iceberg. This is just the beginning of a deeper inquiry into a more alarming issue: the alleged participation of higher officials in EJKs. There is much more to uncover, and we are committed to getting to the bottom of these serious allegations,” Abante said in a separate statement.

Abante vowed the quad committee “will not stop until all the facts are laid bare because this is about accountability, from the lowest office to the highest post.”

“As she has declared, the truth will set her free. We welcome such a declaration, and we hope she will begin to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. She should not cover up the sins of her former superiors, the former president included,” he said.

RESIGNED

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has informed Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla that President Marcos Jr. has accepted the resignation of Leonardo.

Communications Office acting Secretary Cesar Chavez said the October 8, 2024 letter signed by Bersamin stated that Leonardo’s resignation was “effective immediately.”

A copy of the letter was furnished to Napolcom vice chairperson and executive officer Alberto Bernardo.

Chavez said a replacement for Leonardo is already being considered but “will make the announcement at the proper time.”

Bersamin said “the Palace will support the filing” of any case against Leonardo “but will leave the decision to file entirely to the DOJ (Department of Justice) or (the Office of the) Ombudsman.”

‘NO SACRED COWS’

Remulla yesterday vowed there will be no sacred cows in the ongoing investigation into Garma’s revelations.

“There are no sacred cows in this institution and in this investigation,” Remulla told a press conference after presiding over a command conference at Camp Crame.

The DILG secretary was referring to the probe that the PNP has launched into the revelations of Garma during the hearing of the House quad committee last Friday.

Garma has alleged that the former president and other officials of his administration sanctioned covert operations on a national scale, replicating the Davao City model of supposed EJKs, which provided police with financial rewards for killing drug suspects, funding for planned operations, and reimbursement for operational expenses.

Garma said Duterte supposedly asked her in May 2016 before he assumed the presidency to identify a police officer who is a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo and who will be capable of implementing the war on drugs using the Davao model.

Garma said she ended up giving the name of Leonardo, her upperclassman at the PNP Academy.

She said she was later informed by Leonardo that he had been instructed by Duterte to organize a task force against illegal drugs and invited her to join the task force, which she declined. She said Leonardo also informed her that he prepared a proposal, through now Sen. Bong Go, outlining the task force’s operations.

Garma also said “operational expenses and rewards” were processed through the bank accounts of a certain Peter Parungo, a former PNP detainee who was reportedly among those tasked to collect and verify information about people allegedly involved in the trade of illegal drugs.

She presented a matrix during the House quad committee hearing suggesting that former PNP chiefs were aware of the covert operation. She implicated Leonardo as the key figure in the alleged scheme and several other ranking officers who led the drug campaign

Remulla said the personalities mentioned by Garma are “innocent until proven guilty so we must not judge them according to testimony.”

Nevertheless, he stressed that “they will be accorded no special treatment, they will be accorded no special privileges. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty (but) there are no sacred cows in this investigation.”

“Everyone will face the full (force) of the law and the full powers of the PNP and the institutions of the DILG,” Remulla said.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said the PNP has already created a committee that will look into the allegations of Garma. Marbil reiterated his call to former PNP chiefs to shed light on the issue “because Col. Garma claimed former PNP chiefs were being informed regarding the war on drugs.”

“So, we have to take their statements and see something about it so we will know where do we start in our investigation,” he said.

Marbil said they are also waiting for the conclusion of the investigation being conducted by the House of Representatives on the matter.

Remulla said the full extent of the law will be applied “to make sure that justice is done.”

“Again, I must caution you, the testimonies are not over yet so as far as I am concerned, we will wait until all the testimonies are in. We will wait until the appropriate actions are done but initial work is already being conducted (by the PNP),” said Remulla.

“I think pretty soon, there will be corroborative testimonies that will abound,” he added, noting that statements given during the House investigation are made under oath.

“So that takes the form already of direct testimony and can be used by the police as an initial point of investigation and to file charges. But we must caution you that we will wait until the final report is over before all actions are done,” he said.

DOJ PROBE

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said the House quad committee should turn over to the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) the evidence it has gathered during its inquiry, including Garma’s testimonies, for “appropriate investigation and prosecution.”

Barbers vowed to work with the DOJ and the NBI. “Yes, that’s what we will do so that the DOJ can start their preliminary investigation and case build-up,” he said.

The DOJ said it will launch a preliminary investigation on the allegations presented during the House hearing.

Aside from the allegations of Garma linking Duterte to the EJKs, Kerwin Espinosa also alleged that former PNP chief and now Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa supposedly ordered him to implicate former senator Leila de Lima in the narcotics trade.

These revelations, Guevarra, are better investigated by law enforcement agencies.

“It would even be better if all pieces of evidence gathered from the congressional committee hearings are turned over to our executive agencies for appropriate investigation and prosecution,” Guevarra said when asked for comment.

“The quad comm, on its own, may turn it over to the Department of Justice or National Bureau of Investigation or the Office of the Ombudsman for case build-up or further investigation,” he said, adding the Office of the Solicitor General “will come in much later.”

“For now, the quad comm may refer its initial findings to the DOJ/NBI or to the Ombudsman, as these are the agencies that have the mandate to build on the findings of the congressional committees with respect to criminal matters,” Guevarra said.

On Sunday night, DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said the department will initiate a probe on the revelations made before the House joint panel.

“We will initiate the preliminary investigation and case build-up once Congress refers its committee report together with the affidavits or when somebody files a complaint against those responsible,” Vasquez said.

STATE WITNESS?

Barbers said the DOJ will have to evaluate Garma’s testimonies before the quad committee to determine if she is qualified to be a state witness.

“Siguro titimbangin muna ng DOJ ‘yung kanyang ini-reveal niyang information kung qualified ba siya to be state witness or to be a beneficiary of the witness protection program ng ating gobyerno (Perhaps the DOJ has to first evaluate the information she revealed to find out if she is qualified to be a state witness of a beneficiary of the witness protection of our government),” he told radio dzBB.

“(The DOJ is) doing their own investigation, ‘yung kaniyang interview sa mga witnesses na nagbigay ng testimonya before the quad committee. Ganun din siguro ang mangyayari kay Garma effective siguro by this week. Meron din siyang interview for preliminary investigation siguro (The DOJ is doing their own investigation, its interview with witnesses who gave testimonies before the quad comm. The same thing will probably happen to Garma, effective probably by this week. She’ll also probably have an interview for preliminiary investigation),” Barbers said.

The quad comm – composed of the committees on dangerous drugs, public order and safety, human rights, and public accounts — has been investigating the links between Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the illegal drugs trade, the massive property acquisition of some Chinese citizens and the reward system for the killings of drug suspects, which lawmakers have found, were partly funded by POGO money.

CENTER OF OPS

In her sworn affidavit submitted to the House joint panel, Garma said a task force led by Leonardo based at the regional office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Davao City was at the center of the Duterte administration’s reward-driven war on drugs.

The former PCSO general manager also detailed how financial rewards incentivized the killings of drug suspects, with a system in place that prioritized EJKs over arrests.

Garma alleged that the anti-drug campaign was carried out under the former president’s direct orders, with Go, and Leonardo playing key roles in its implementation.

She said Leonardo, then CIDG Region 11 chief, supposedly assembled a team of trusted operatives to carry out the drug war’s operations, patterned after the infamous “Davao Model” used during Duterte’s time as mayor.

The group, she said, included Rommel Bactat, Rodel Cerbo, Michael Palma and Lester Berganio.

“Rommel Bactat, Rodel Cerbo, and Michael Palma were all former police officers stationed at the CIDG 11 Office,” Garma said. “They were discharged from service on or about a year ago due to an operation that led to the killing of one individual.”

Garma alleged the operatives were tasked with gathering intelligence on drug suspects and compiling reports on arrests and killings. The reports were purportedly processed by Berganio, who allegedly maintained a comprehensive list of drug personalities in the country, and Leonardo would then determine the “level” of the operation and assign a corresponding reward.

“Rewards were only given for killings, while for arrests, only the funding of the COPLAN and a refund for the expenses was given,” Garma explained, referring to the case operation plan.

Garma also told the quad committee last Friday that while she did not know the exact amounts, the cash rewards for drug-related killings ranged from P20,000 to P1 million, depending on the target.

A significant part of Garma’s testimony focused on the financial operations supporting the work of the Leonardo-led task force.

She disclosed that Parungo, a former detainee cleared of a rape charge, allegedly managed the financial transactions related to the task force. All funds for COPLAN, reimbursements for operational expenses, and rewards for agents were funneled through Parungo’s accounts at major Philippine banks.

“All COPLAN funds, refunds for operational expenses, and rewards for agents were processed through the bank accounts of Peter Parungo at Metrobank, BDO, and PS Bank,” Garma said.

‘POLITICIZED’

Go said the Duterte administration’s accomplishments in the war on drugs are now being politicized, saying that the efforts once enjoyed widespread public approval since people felt safer in their communities.

“Nakakalungkot na baliktad na ang panahon ngayon. Hinahaluan ng politika ang mga imbestigasyon at binabalewala na ang pinagsikapan ng nakaraang administrasyon na linisin ang bansa laban sa kriminalidad at droga para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak (It is disappointing how times have changed. The investigations are politicized, and the past administration’s efforts to rid the streets of criminals and illegal drugs for our children’s future are now disregarded),” Go said.

Go said that there was no “reward system” in Duterte’s bloody war on drugs, denying Garma’s allegations.

He said that as a lawyer and a former prosecutor, Duterte made sure that the rule was respected. “Walang reward system na ini-implementa noon kapalit ang buhay ninuman (There was no reward system implemented in exchange for the life of whoever),” he said in a statement.

Go also denied that he has any participation “directly or indirectly” in the operational requirements of the war on drugs since his job as Special Assistant to the President before he was elected senator in 2019 was “limited to scheduling appointments and presidential engagements.”

“My mandate does not include police operations,” he said, adding, “Let me be very clear. Walang kinalaman ang aking opisina sa operasyon at organisasyon ng kapulisan. Hindi rin ako mismo ang humahawak ng pera ng opisina ng pangulo dahil hindi yan parte ng mga tungkulin ko noon (My former office did not have anything to do with the operations and organization of the police. I do not personally hold the budget of the office of the [former] president because that is not part of my mandate),” he added.

He said Duterte won the 2016 elections due to his strong stance against criminality and illegal drugs, which earned the support of various sectors, with both houses of Congress lauding the campaign during the former president’s State-of-the-Nation Addresses from 2016 to 2021.

He said Garma’s accusations are “diversionary tactics” aimed at muddling the “real issue.” He did not elaborate on what “real issues” he was referring to.

He likewise called Garma’s statements “malicious and unsubstantiated” and urged the Senate to conduct a parallel investigation into the allegations.

Dela Rosa said Marbil’s call for former PNP chiefs to explain their role in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs “is totally fine with me.”

“He is the current PNP chief, he can initiate his own fact-finding effort since the PNP has been at the receiving end in the issue at hand,” Dela Rosa said in a Viber message to the media.

‘A BLESSING’

Former Sen. Leila de Lima yesterday called the split of the UniTeam a “blessing,” noting that witnesses against the alleged abuses of the Duterte administration are now coming out in the open.

“The food for thought is if there was still UniTeam, could there be such proceeding now? I would say it was a blessing that the UniTeam was dismantled because people are now getting emboldened,” De Lima told ANC’s Headstart in an interview.

She said that the statements made now by her former accusers, including Kerwin Espinosa, are no longer a surprise since she knew from the start that he testified against his will.

“I was no longer surprised. But of course, it’s such a great feeling for me because it means that’s another vindication for me, it’s all part of my redemption before the general public… For years they imprisoned me, deprived me of my liberty and they deprived me of my honor,” she said.

She admitted to having felt some hurt feelings against her former colleagues who allowed themselves to be used by the former administration to pin her down.

“Of course, masama ang loob ko diyan na they also allowed themselves to be used during that time. Everybody was just being scared of Mr. Duterte so nagpagamit yung mga institusyon natin, both the Senate and the House of Representatives (Of course, I was hurt because they allowed themselves to be used during that time. Everybody was just being scared of Mr. Duterte, so our institutions, both the Senate and the House of Representatives, allowed themselves to be used),” she added.

“I’m so grateful to the good Lord na lumalabas na lahat ng katotohanan (that the truth is coming out). Let the whole truth come out, the whole thing, the drug war, how terrible it was, we are all seeing that now,” she said.

ICC PROBE

On the heels of Garma’s revelations, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) called on the Marcos administration to give its full cooperation to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its probe of the bloody war on drugs of the Duterte administration.

In a statement, the NCCP said it is now imperative for the Marcos administration to give support to the ICC probe if it is with the victims of the extra-judicial killings and their families in their fight for justice.

“The revelation of Garma corroborates the previous testimonies of witnesses and only confirms the open secret knowledge that the spate of killings that victimized around 30,000 people in the country was state-sponsored, planned, committed, and funded by the state authorities,” said the NCCP.

“The National Council of Churches in the Philippines supports the call to permit the International Criminal Court to undertake its investigation in the Philippines,” it also said.

The religious organization said it is also imperative for the House of Representatives to come out with a solution to remove the loopholes in laws to avoid a repeat of the bloody war on drugs.

It noted how such is the purpose of the ongoing investigation of the House quad committee hearing on the extrajudicial killings.

“We call on the lawmakers to see to it that the loopholes in the law that have been used and are being used to justify the syndicated killings are repealed and shut off,” said the NCCP.

“The current administration should ensure that extrajudicial killings must not continue, and human rights should prevail,” it added.

Bersamin stood by the Marcos administration’s position that it would not rejoin the ICC and cooperate in its probe.

“The Philippines will not return to (the) ICC. Based on this, the President is not expected to change his mind and not refer the quad comm matter to the ICC,” he said in a message sent to the media through Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez.

Bersamin was reacting to the call of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) asking the President to submit the quad committee investigation findings to the ICC “for inclusion in the prosecution’s case build-up on crimes against humanity committed in the Philippines.”

It added that the ICC must take cognizance of any material and relevant information about the war on drugs, including the testimony of Garma.

“Garma’s testimony establishes a pattern in the killings and fingers the ‘most responsible’ behind all the incidents. Her statement ties up why all those senseless killings on the ground happened, and on another hand, why policemen are complicit and willful participants,” a NUPL statement read.

The NUPL also said that Garma’s statement during the quad committee hearing is a “powerful testament to Duterte’s murderous schemes, from Davao to the rest of the country, that confirms other statements made by insiders as well. It is damning evidence, and hopefully, the first of many”.

Reports said there are about 6,200 drug-related deaths recorded during the drug war under the Duterte administration, but human rights groups claim that more individuals died during the bloody campaign. — With Jocelyn Montemayor, Victor Reyes, Ashzel Hachero, Raymond Africa and Gerard Naval

TWO women lawmakers yesterday filed an ethics complaint against their colleague, Rep. Wilbert Lee (PL, Agri), for supposedly aggressively confronting them while they were defending the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Health (DOH) last month during the plenary deliberations on Malacañang’s proposed P6.352 trillion national budget for next year.

Reps. Stella Quimbo of Marikina and Angelica Natasha Co (PL, BHW) filed the complaint against Lee for unparliamentary behavior before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges chaired by Rep. Felimon Espares (PL, COOP NATCCO).

Lee, who tried to block the passage of the DOH budget over the alleged failure of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to increase coverage for medical procedures such as chemotherapy and other medical tests, allegedly threatened the two female lawmakers on September 25 at around 6:30 p.m. while Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza was doing his interpellation.

“(Rep.) Nikka Co and I were subjected to acts of aggression by Rep. Wilbert Lee. While standing at podium number three, Rep. Lee pointed his finger at us repeatedly and with force, later on, moved towards us.  He uttered the words, ‘Kung hindi niyo ako pagsasalitain, manggugulo ako (If you won’t allow me to speak, I will make a scene here),’ and later moved towards Rep. Daza and forcibly grabbed the microphone from Rep. Daza. While the media caught this, unfortunately, none of his aggressive actions toward Cong. Nikka and I were documented by any media outlet,” Quimbo said.

Two days before the incident, Lee sought the deferment of the passage of the DOH’s budget and its attached agencies during the House plenary debates on September 23 due to his dissatisfaction over its supposed lack of urgency and inaction on expanding PhilHealth benefit coverage despite its billions of pesos of available funds.

“This fight is not just for us – Rep. Co and I – but for every woman intimidated or silenced. We owe it to ourselves to stand up for our rights and dignity,” Quimbo said.

In a statement, Lee said it was not his intention to “hurt or bully anyone.” “Iginagalang po natin ito bilang karapatan ng kapwa natin mambabatas (We respect the rights or our fellow legislators),” he said.

Lee said he did not intend “to disrespect the institution and that his action was brought upon by his impassioned advocacy to put on record the commitments he secured from the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on lowering the out-of-pocket medical expenses of Filipinos.”

The party-list congressman vowed to explain his side once summoned by the ethics panel.  “Hinihintay lang po natin na makakuha ng opisyal na kopya para makatugon sa nasabing ethics complaint (I’m just waiting for the official copy of the complaint so I could respond to it),” he said.

From her perspective, Quimbo said Lee’s his actions, “particularly, his moving forward with his hand and eye movement — were an attempt to assault.”

“My instinct was to duck behind the podium for my own safety. I felt physically threatened. Nakita ko rin ang kalituhan ni Rep. Co sa sitwasyon (I also saw the confusion of Rep. Co about the situation),” she said.

“This should not happen to any woman, especially in the workplace. His actions were a clear form of intimidation, and this behavior is unacceptable,” she also said.

Quimbo stressed that as vice chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, “it is not within our discretion to choose who gets to ask questions,” adding that their responsibility as budget sponsors “is to address the questions of the interpellators chosen by the minority.”

“But this is not just about me or Cong. Nikka alone. This is largely about women’s workspaces being disrespected. Bilang mga babae sa trabaho, hindi dapat tayo tinatakot. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang pambubully ng isang lalaki sa Kongreso (As women in the workplace, we should be threatened. It’s just now that I’ve experienced bullying by a male person in Congress),” she said.

Quimbo said the incident caused her “emotional distress.” Right after the termination of the DOH budget hearing, the lawmaker said she and Co cried together out of fear.

“Hindi po iyon tears of joy tulad ng inakala ng marami (It wasn’t tears of joy as many had thought), kundi (But) tears of fear. Si Cong. Nikka, makalipas ang isang oras, dahil sa stress, nag-collapse habang nakikinig kami sa address ni Speaker Martin (Cong. Nikka, after an hour, because of stress, collapsed while we were listening to the address of Speaker Martin Romualdez),” she said.

Quimbo said Lee had not personally apologized to her and Co although he wrote a letter to Rep. Elizaldy Co. (PL, Ako Bicol), chair of the appropriations panel which scrutinizes the annual national budget bill.

“What date is it today? October 14, but this incident happened last September 25? We did not receive any apology,” Quimbo said. “As far as I know, he has submitted a written letter of apology to chairman Elizaldy Co as the appropriations committee (head).”

In the letter dated September 26, Lee apologized to Co for his “demeanor.” “It was brought about by the intense passion and sense of duty to enter into the records the commitments we are demanding the health department and PhilHealth in the spirit of transparency and accountability,” he said.

“Nonetheless, it was uncalled for. Be assured that such incident will not happen again,” Lee said.

Solons: Garma’s exposé just the tip of the iceberg

PNP CHIEF Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil yesterday asked chiefs of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the Duterte administration to “clarify” their role in the bloody war against illegal drugs.

There were eight PNP chiefs under the previous administration, including now Sen. Ronald dela Rosa. The seven others are Oscar Albayalde, Archie Gamboa, Camilo Cascolan (now deceased), Debold Sinas, Guillermo Eleazar, Dionardo Carlos, and Vicente Danao.

“Former PNP chiefs should clarify (their) role in anti-drugs operations,” Marbil said in a statement.

Marbil made the statement after retired Lt. Col. Royina Garma, reading her affidavit during a House hearing on Friday, alleged that former President Rodrigo Duterte and other officials of his administration sanctioned covert operations on a national scale, replicating the Davao City model of supposed extrajudicial killings, which provided police with financial rewards for killing drug suspects, funding for planned operations, and reimbursement for operational expenses.

Administration lawmakers yesterday said Garma’s statements during the quad committee hearing are just the tip of the iceberg.

The quad comm — composed of the committees on dangerous drugs, public order and safety, human rights, and public accounts — has been investigating links among illegal operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), proliferation of illegal drugs, massive property acquisition of Chinese citizens, and the reward system for the killings of drug suspects, which lawmakers have found to have been funded partly by POGO money.

Garma, who served as general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office during the Duterte administration, said the model involved cash rewards for every person killed in the war against illegal drugs.

She said Duterte asked her in May 2016 (before assuming the presidency) to identify a police officer, who is a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo, who is capable of implementing the war on drugs using the Davao model.

Garma said she ended up giving the name Col. Edilberto Leonardo, her upperclassman at the PNP Academy.

Leonardo has retired from the PNP and was a commissioner at the National Police Commission (Napolcom). A Napolcom official told the hearing he has resigned.

Garma she was later informed by Leonardo that he had been instructed by Duterte to organize a task force against illegal drugs. She said Leonardo invited her to join the task force but she declined. She said Leonardo also informed her that he prepared a proposal, through now Sen. Bong Go, outlining the task force’s operations.

Garma also said “operational expenses and rewards” were processed through the bank accounts of a Peter Parungo, a former PNP detainee who was reportedly among those tasked to collect and verify information about people allegedly involved in the trade of illegal drugs.

She presented a matrix during the House Quad Committee hearing suggesting that former PNP chiefs were aware of the covert operation. She implicated Leonardo as the key figure in the alleged scheme and several other ranking officers who led the drug campaign.

Marbil said the PNP takes Garma’s allegations “very seriously.”

“We will thoroughly investigate Garma’s claims to ensure accountability and transparency within our ranks,” he said in the statement.

TRUST

Marbil underscored the importance of restoring the public’s trust in the PNP, particularly in the recalibrated campaign against illegal drugs under the current administration.

“Our commitment to human rights and accountability is paramount. We must work diligently to regain the trust of the people and ensure that law enforcement operates within the bounds of the law,” said Marbil.

The PNP Public Information Office (PIO) said Marbil announced that measures would be implemented “to strengthen public confidence and prevent similar abuses in future operations.”

“Gen. Marbil reiterated that the PNP remains dedicated to upholding justice and restoring faith in its operations, reinforcing its commitment to protecting human rights in all aspects of our operations,” the PIO said in a statement.

PEEK INTO WAR VS DRUGS

Reps. Jefferson Khonghun of Zambales and Francisco Paolo Ortega V of La Union said Garma’s exposé gave Filipinos a peek into the nitty gritty of the Duterte administration’s drug war, which is being blamed for the thousands of extrajudicial killings in the country.

“Mind you, it’s just the tip of the iceberg — so to speak. It comes from the perspective of an insider who has not just the trust and confidence, or the eyes and ears of the former president, but even beyond that,” Khonghun said.

Konghun said Garma’s account of how the drug war was conceptualized and planned is not something that can be easily ignored.

He said the testimony “definitely carries with it much credibility, most especially if other witnesses, including documentary evidence, will corroborate whatever Garma may have to say as a matter of public record.”

In the affidavit which she read during last Friday’s hearing, Garma disclosed key details about the roles of the former president and former special assistant to the president and now Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go in overseeing the anti-drug operations.

MORE TO UNCOVER

Ortega said the disclosure made by Garma before the quad comm “was only but the beginning of a deeper and more alarming issue regarding how extrajudicial killings were carried out in the previous administration.”

“Please take note that Garma’s explosive testimony before us involves not just hundreds, but thousands of lives lost to drug operations where even innocent children and teenagers were killed — all in the guise of combatting the drug menace in the streets,” he said.

“There is much more to uncover, and we are committed to getting to the bottom of these serious allegations. The Quad Comm will not stop until all the facts are laid bare because this is about accountability,” Ortega added.

Garma has denied she was pressured to implicate Duterte, saying the decision was entirely voluntary because of her commitment to the truth and her desire to help reform the PNP.

TRUTH

Garma shocked lawmakers when she disclosed details of the alleged reward system for EJKs under Duterte.

“I realize the truth will always set us free, Mr. Chair, and at least I will be able to contribute if we really want to make this country a better place to live … for our children,” Garma told Sta. Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, one of the joint panel’s chairmen. “I think we have to do something para maibalik ‘yung trust sa PNP, magkaroon ng reform sa PNP (to restore public trust in the PNP, to reform the PNP).”

Garma has said she still fears for her safety after making the revelations but did not directly say if she is afraid that the former president might retaliate against her.

“Of course, it’s normal, Mr. Chair, when you speak the truth, you cannot please everyone. But still, it took me one week to make reflections, and I realized I need to do my part,” she said. “Normal lang naman bilang tao, (It’s normal for a human being), Mr. Chair, pero what prevailed after a week of reflection is I always say, the truth will always set me free. I want a better place. A better PNP, Mr. Chair.”

IMPARTIAL PROBE

Senator Go called for an impartial probe on Garma’s revelations and denied there was a reward system.

He said the campaign against illegal drugs was a key point in every State of the Nation Address of Duterte delivered from 2016 to 2021, which, he added, received widespread support, even earning a standing ovation from those in attendance.

Go said this reflects the strong backing from both the Senate and the House of Representatives at the time for the war against illegal drugs.

“Both houses of Congress agree with this policy, even giving the former President a standing ovation when the war on drugs is mentioned during his SONAs,” Go added.

He defended Duterte’s commitment to the rule of law, emphasizing that the former president, as a lawyer and former prosecutor, never condoned unlawful killings.

“The former President has stated numerous times that his administration never sanctioned nor tolerated any form of senseless killings. Abogado si FPRRD na naging prosecutor pa (He is a lawyer and a prosecutor). He knows and has always respected the rule of law,” Go added.

Earlier, Go denied any involvement in the operations of the police during the previous administration’s brutal anti-drug campaign, adding that as the special assistant to the President (SAP), his duties were limited and did not involve police operations.

He said that as SAP, he had no participation whatsoever, directly or indirectly, in the operational requirements of the war on drugs.

“As stated in the executive order creating my position, my functions are limited to scheduling, appointments, and presidential engagements. My mandate does not include police operations,” he said. — With Ashzel Hachero

‘MALICIOUS STATEMENTS’

He dismissed Garma’s statements linking him to the war on drugs, adding that he had no hand in police operations or the financial management of the Office of the President.

Go said Garma’s unsubstantiated and malicious claims have no place in a legitimate investigation, urging the Senate to ensure fairness and impartiality.

“Malicious and unsubstantiated statements should have no place in any credible investigation. I would strongly encourage the Senate to conduct an impartial investigation on these allegations,” Go added.

Garma has said Leonardo also reported to Go whenever an individual died in police operations so it could be included in his weekly report and requests to refund operational expenses.

ILOILO Rep. Janette Garin yesterday said the call of Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito to replace Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president Emmanuel Ledesma for his alleged failure to fully implement the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law would be useless if Congress will not amend the law.

“We can change the PhilHealth chief a hundred times but unless we amend the law as soon as possible, universal health care can never be achieved,” Garin, former health secretary, said.

Garin vowed to refile her resolution urging the House committee on health to review some provisions of UHC Law, saying its objectives will not be fulfilled because of “killer provisions” that have to be amended.

“I call on the leadership of both houses to make the amendment to UHC a priority,” said Garin, who has been pushing for the law’s amendment since the 18th Congress.

Garin, a physician and vaccinologist, questioned Section 34 of the law, which mandates that health interventions such as medicines, vaccines and medical devices undergo Phase IV clinical study.

She said that after Phase III of a clinical trial, health interventions are already considered safe and efficacious.

“With this requirement of Phase IV, Filipinos will have no recourse but to go to other countries to gain access to any breakthrough in science. This Section 34 of UHC is just one of the many provisions deemed restrictive and detrimental to health care accessibility,” said Garin.

She criticized the creation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) which she said was influenced by anti-pharmaceutical groups and former officials who wanted to empower themselves.

Ejercito, an author and sponsor of the UHC Law, earlier said he is disappointed with the meager amount of PhilHealth’s contribution to patients’ hospital bills amid its announcement of billions in excess funds.

As an example, Ejercito showed during the Kapihan sa Senado media forum last Wednesday a patient’s hospital bill in the Philippine General Hospital, amounting to P270,894 but the deductible amount shared by PhilHealth was only P32,964, or only 12 percent of the total bill. Other hospital bills showed from only 0.69 percent to 8.28 percent PhilHealth share.

Ejercito said he will ask PhilHealth to explain the very low deductions in patients’ hospital bills during budget hearings.